Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
壅 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
壅yōngto block; to obstructzg, 16 strokes, radical 土, rank #88646, Very Hard
壅yōngto stop upunknown, 16 strokes, radical 土, rank #88646, Very Hard
壅yōngto heap soil around the roots of a plantunknown, 16 strokes, radical 土, rank #88646, Very Hard
yōng(yong1)yong T1
  1. 1to block; to obstruct
  2. 2to stop up
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

壅yōng(yong1)

The character 壅 (yōng) means to block or obstruct something. It is often used in contexts where an obstacle prevents movement or flow, such as blocking a road or obstructing a view. Additionally, it can refer to the act of heaping soil around the roots of a plant, which relates to nurturing growth.

Strokes16Radical土Frequency#88646DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese agriculture, heaping soil around the roots of plants is a technique believed to promote better growth, linking the character 壅 to practical farming practices in Chinese culture.

Memory tip

Imagine a giant wall (the radical 壌) blocking your way (yōng sounds like 'young', and think of a 'young' tree surrounded by a mound of soil). Visualize trying to get past this wall to reach the tree, reinforcing the idea of obstruction.

Meanings of 壅

yōng(yong1)
1to block; to obstruct
2to stop up
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 壅 means.

About 壅

壅Simplified
16Strokes
土Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 壅

JasonAmy

Podcast: 壅

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 壅

Quick Contrast

阻 (zǔ) — use 壅 when referring specifically to physical blockage or obstruction, while 阻 is more general and can refer to hindering or preventing actions.

Usage Notes

Be mindful that 壅 is more formal and less commonly used in everyday conversation; phrases like 'to block' (阻挡) might be more frequently heard. A common mistake is to confuse 壅 with similar-sounding words, so pay attention to context and usage.

HSK Study Tips

This character is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, but understanding it can enhance your comprehension of more advanced texts. Focus on its meaning in relation to other words about obstruction or blockage, such as 阻止 (zǔzhǐ) and 拦 (lán).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 壅 with 阻, mistakenly using it in phrases like '壅路' instead of '阻路' for 'block the road'. Always use the correct character based on the context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 壅

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 壅 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 壅 to you

Let me explain 壅 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 壅 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

How well do you know 壅?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 壅 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 壅

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

earth

Semantic (meaning)土
+
Phonetic (sound)雍
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

壅 = 土 + 雍. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 壅

IDS Structure⿱雍土
壅Full character
=
雍Yong1
top
土Tu3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 壅?

How to say to block; to obstruct in Chinese

“to block; to obstruct” in Chinese is壅yōng

The character 壅 (yōng) means to block or obstruct something. It is often used in contexts where an obstacle prevents movement or flow, such as blocking a road or obstructing a view. Additionally, it can refer to the act of heaping soil around the roots of a plant, which relates to nurturing growth.

When to use 壅

Be mindful that 壅 is more formal and less commonly used in everyday conversation; phrases like 'to block' (阻挡) might be more frequently heard. A common mistake is to confuse 壅 with similar-sounding words, so pay attention to context and usage.

壅 or something close to it

阻 (zǔ) — use 壅 when referring specifically to physical blockage or obstruction, while 阻 is more general and can refer to hindering or preventing actions.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 壅 with 阻, mistakenly using it in phrases like '壅路' instead of '阻路' for 'block the road'. Always use the correct character based on the context.

Write 壅

壅

Practice writing 壅 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 壅?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

Word Family of 壅

Words containing this character2
壅yōngto obstruct
壅塞to be clogged up
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 壅

What does 壅塞 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 壅

The pronunciation is 'yōng', with the first tone being high and level.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 壅?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab